Chapter 2

I woke up confused, not remembering coming back to the homestead and going to bed. I searched my thoughts and was able to put together bits and pieces from the day before.

"You took quite a spill yesterday." I looked up from the bed to spot Achilles getting up from a chair in the corner. He stopped at the edge of my bed and sat down next to my feet.

"I'd say that you scared the people of this town quite a bit," he continued with a twinge of amusement in his tone.

I moved my hand down to my side and felt a long line of stitches down my wound. Although it was still painful, it was nothing compared to the day before.

"Who…"

Achilles interrupted me, "Dr. White and Diana were kind enough to stitch you up and give you something to ease the pain. Your friends were quite worried. In fact, some of them are still downstairs in my kitchen."

I carefully sat up and slid my legs off of the bed, taking care not to tear any stitches. However, when I attempted to stand, the pain immediately sent me back down gasping for breath. Achilles shook his head.

"The doctor suggested that you take a couple of weeks of rest. I'm afraid your mission will have to wait."

I glared, "You know that that is not possible old man."

He got up and headed towards the door. "Even an assassin needs his moments of rest; remember that Connor."

I laid back down, beyond frustrated at my current predicament. But, as I felt the medication that was given to me start to ebb away, I knew that as much as I didn't want to admit it, he was right

Achilles stopped at the doorway. "I'll send up our guests since you're awake now. They have been waiting patiently."

I gave him no response and instead turned my head towards the wall. I knew that I was being childish, but Church and the supplies were not going to wait for me to get better. The patriots relied on me to get those back, and most importantly my people relied on me to keep them safe. If something happened to them while I was in this bed, I would never forgive myself. I briefly let myself entertain the thought that my father would wonder where I was, but quickly dismissed it.

"Conner, thank God you're alright!"

I looked up at my door to see a group of people filing in: Myriam, Norris, Corrine, Diana, and lastly Lance.

"We're so sorry for scaring you like that. We had no idea that you were hurt," Lance proclaimed apologetically.

It was then that I remembered the reason I fell. Myriam and Norris never told me what Corrine needed done, and I had no idea why or what everyone yelled when I walked in.

"It's alright, really," I replied, easing his conscious. "But, what was it that Corrine needed done?" My gaze turned towards the older woman.

And, just like that the room burst into laughter. I looked at each person beyond confused, pleading that they tell me what was so funny. Corrine was the first to gain her composure.

"Oh dear, there was never any task. We were throwing a party in your honor," she exclaimed.

Her explanation told me very little. "Do not misunderstand me, I am grateful, but I don't quite understand why."

Everyone in the room seemed to be giving each other knowing looks. Myriam stepped towards me and sat on the edge of my bed.

"Connor, that's exactly why; you do so much for this town. If it weren't for you, most of us would probably be dead three times over, heck most of us wouldn't have even made it here in the first place. We owe so much to you and you never ask for anything in return. We wanted you to know how much we all love and appreciate you."

I hadn't heard words like that spoken to me in a long time. I was speechless. Gratitude was not something that I often received since leaving my tribe. Myriam smirked.

"But, if you ever hide something like this from me again, you'll wish you had an injury as minor as this!"

I let out a hearty laugh along with the rest of the room at the thought of Myriam trying to harm me, but soon regretted the action as my injury made it known to me once more. The others seemed to sense my discomfort. Norris stepped forward.

"Just know my friend that if you need anything at all during your recovery, need only ask and we will be here."

I nodded my head, "Thank you, I appreciate that."

After saying their goodbyes, the group left me to my rest. Something about their sentiments left me endlessly smiling. I built more than a town by bringing all of these people together, I helped build a family. True, they would never know of some aspects of my life, but with what they did know, they accepted me as one of their own. My people may soon be gone forever from me, but it seemed that I had a new place in life. I vowed to protect this makeshift family, and it seemed that they had done the same for me. It would be a lie if I said I was not touched.

I decided that the Patriots would have to wait. The world could go on without me for a week or two. Haytham was not the only family I had left in the world. Right now, I was going to heal, and that family was going to help me along the way.